Former Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Malam Wali, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wali, 68, secured victory at the party’s governorship primary election conducted at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Damaturu.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Muttaqah Rabe Darma, announced that the exercise was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution, electoral guidelines and provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act.
According to the results declared by the committee, Wali polled 236,711 votes to defeat other aspirants in the contest. His closest challenger, Abubakar Bukar Kagu, scored 9,748 votes.
Other contestants included Bashir Sheriff Machina, who secured 1,894 votes; Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja with 1,178 votes; Hamidu Alhaji Muhammad, who polled 1,722 votes; Inusa Muhammad with 1,148 votes; and Ma’aji Modu, who recorded 1,371 votes.
Darma subsequently declared Wali winner of the primary election, stating that he fulfilled all constitutional requirements of the party and secured the highest number of valid votes cast.
Political observers believe Wali’s emergence strengthens ongoing calls for power rotation to Yobe North Senatorial District, a region that has yet to produce either a governor or deputy governor since the creation of the state in 1991.
Wali, a native of Nguru Local Government Area, had earlier been endorsed as the party’s consensus candidate following a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam.
Born in 1958, Wali attended Ahmadu Bello University, where he obtained both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
He began his career with the Chad Basin Development Authority before joining the defunct Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) as a Social Mobilisation Officer.
Over the years, he served in several strategic public service positions, including Principal Research Officer in the Borno State Governor’s Office and Principal Private Secretary to the then Military Governor of Borno State.
After rising to the rank of Permanent Secretary, Wali worked in ministries covering Sports and Social Development, Transport and Energy, Environment, as well as Administration and General Services.
He also attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, where he completed the Senior Executive Course and earned the title of Member of the National Institute (mni).
Wali later served as Secretary to the State Government under the administrations of Senator Ibrahim Geidam and Governor Mai Mala Buni.
In March this year, he was recognised by the Progressive Governors Forum as the longest-serving Secretary to a State Government in Nigeria.
